Fire-escape



(No Model.)

J. M. WA KEMAN.

FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented Oct 11 IJVVEJVTOR WITNESSES Attorney N. PETERS. Phowmlw u nu.wnnm hm D. Cv

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. \VAKEMAN, OF \VATKINS, NEWV YORK.

Fl RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,483, dated October11, 1887,

Applicaicn filed June 2, 1887. Serial No. 240,013. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN M. WAKEMAN, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Watkins, in the county of Schuyler and State ofNew. York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Myinvention relates to certain new and useful improvements infire-escapes, the object of myinvention being to provide a meanswherewith persons can descend from buildings upon a single inclinedrope, and while descending can regulate the speed of their descent.

My invention consists ofa fire-escape which is adapted to be used as ameans of descent upon a single rope, the construction of the same beingsuch thata pulley which is carried thereby can clamp upon the rope so asto retard the descent; and with the above end in view myinventionconsists in the construction and combination of the parts, as will behereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate myinvention, Figure 1 isa viewshowing the invention in use. Fig. 2 is an end view, partly insection. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the pulley detached, andFig. 4 is a modification of my invention.

A refers to the rope, which is preferably of wire or finely-woven fiber,so as to be comparatively hard, which rope may be stretched from thewindow of a building to the ground, and in connection with such a ropemy invention is adapted to be used.

B refers to one of the bars or arms, which is provided at one end with aloop or eye, B, to which a strap, 1), is secured. The opposite end ofthe bar B is rounded and bent at right angles, as shown at O, and nearthe end the portion 0 is squared, as shown at c, the extreme endbeingscrew-threaded for the reception of a nut, D, which nut is roundedon its under side.

E refers to the hand-grasping bar, which is shorter than the bar B, thelower end being formed into a loop, as shown, while the upper end has asquare opening, e, which is adapted to fit loosely over the squaredportion 0, so that the same may be moved thereon.

The pulley, which is journaled on the bent end 0 of the bar B, ispreferably made in two parts, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, one part, F,consisting ofa hub, f, which is provided with a flange, f, the edge ofwhich is bent outwardly. The hubfis provided centrally with a circularopening, and its edge is beveled from this opening toward the flangedportion, as shown atf. The portion G of the pulley F has a centralopening, of a little larger diameter than the diameter of the hub f, andits periphery is beveled, as shown.

WVhen a solid pulley is used, as shown in Fig. 4, the periphery isprovided with a V- shaped groove, within which the rope will lie.

In practice the rope is first stretched and the parts are placed overthe rope so that the same will lie between the flanges of the pulley,and the person who is to descend first places the belt b around his bodyand grasps the loop. By drawing the looped handbar toward the bar 13 thehand-bar is caused to rock so as to move the flange G toward the flangef, thereby clamping the rope between the flanges and,

creating sufficient friction to prevent too rapid descent. The rapidityof the descent can be regulated by hand-pressure.

I am aware that it has been proposed in constructing fire-escapes ofthis general character to journal the rope-pulley between the rigid armsof a U-shaped bracket, a hand-lever being pivoted to one of the arms ofsaid bracket and provided with a forked end to straddle said arm andbear upon one end of the pulley. My device differs materially from thatmentioned, however, in that I employ a single bracket-arm of L shape,the roller beingjournaled on the short arm thereof, and clamped, whennecessary, between the long arm and a hand-brake secured upon the outerend of the short arm and extending down toward the loop at the end ofthe long arm 13 of the L- shaped bracket. Owing to this construction Ieffect a saving of material and labor, and aside from this provide abrake which will act more promptly and effectually, as theclamping-pressure of arms 13 and E is exerted at the periphery of thepulley.

I claim- 1. In a fire-escape adapted for use upon a rope, a bar, B,provided with a bent end which forms ajournal for a pulley, a hand-barsuitbly attached to the bar B, so that by moving the hand-bar toward thesame a brake will be applied to the pulley, substantially as shown, andfor the purpose set forth.

2. In combination with a bar, 13, having a loop at one end for theattachment of a belt thereto, said b'ar being bent at its opposite endso as to form a journal for a pulley, a looped hand-bar secured by a nuthaving a beveled face to the bar B, and a pulley located between saidbars, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

- 3.. The combination, inafire-escape, ofa pul- 2o ley having aprojecting hub with a beveled face, a flange, G, adapted to be placedover JOHN M. WAKEMAN.

WVitnesses:

WVILLIAM N. LOVE, FANNY R. CASS.

